Partition structure.



`N0.23,5`575 f i.. PHENTEDJUNE19,1906.l

. 1 AA. lInj'sPEER.

' PARTITION STRUCTURE.

. APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 6, i905.

IOl

UNrrED ys'rATns 'PATENT vorrrojn.

4, iraTHUR R, sPEER, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. turn-Innova STRUCTURE. y

Application led February 6,

l'o au whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR R. SPEER, a

.citizen of the United States,'residing at Pittsnals o the partition therewith. Fig. 3 is a detail plan .view of one of the cross-joints,

showing the manner oi' connecting the cross members`together. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal j a modification.

.inverted-U,

section on the lineL-IV IV of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are similarv views on the lines V V and VI V I, respectively, of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of a portion of one of the cross members separated from the other. member. Fig.l 8 is a detail view illustrating Fig. 9 isl a cross-section on the line rIXIX of Fig. 8. Figs. 10 and llare sectional detail views showing different ways vof securing the partitions to the case.

My invention `refers to improvements in partition or separating structures for packing cases, boxes, crates, &c., and refers to the means for providing a stiff light device adapted for incorporation with acrate or box in sucha manner as to divide it into a series of closely-adjacent spaces for the purpose of receivingand separating bottles'or other similar articles:`

The invention refers more particularly to the manner of constructing the partitions or racks of stri swof. light sheet metal bent into forri,{sec ured together at each juncture" by pressing the strips together, so as to provide a'practically integral continuous rack, means also being provided whereby the rack 'm ay be readily and securely attached in position.

The device is particularly designed for incorporation with ythat class of sheet-metal packing or shipping cases for which I have iiled an application for Letters Patent bearing the Serial No. 244,492, wherein two or more adjacent sections2 of sheet metal forming the ends and sides are bui-1t up one upon another and connected by doubling the edge Specification of Letters Patent.

of one such section around a corresponding 1905.' escamas-14,493.

flange 3 of the adjacent section,

Patented June i9, i906.

so as to provide outwardly-extending strengthening-ribs @which encircle the case and coincide witl the joints.

In this construction the racks are conveniently attached by inserting their terminals 5 between such connecting portions, as shown 1n Figs, 1 and 2, 'and for such purpose I preferably employ 4racks made of v stripsA of thin sheet -inetal adapted to be formed with suitable flat termlnals `5, as shown.. The connecting-flanges of the sections being pressed together between each of such terminals 5 will firmly displacement. The body portion of the racks between their terminals and the cross-joints are pressedV into inverted-U form,as shown hold them against at', andat the 'points where the members i cross each other at rightangles, as shown inl Fig. 1, they over and under lap each other alternately. The strips are originally pressd out fiat for a distance equal to the overlapping area of each member and are then securedtogether by the pressing action-of a star-shaped or other form of die, producing a corresponding depression or groove .7.,

" For the purpose of utilizing the stiffening action of such. groove it preferably extends some distance beyond the side edges of each member, as shown in Fig. 3, thus producing a cross-sectional shape of each member at each side of the side, edges approximating an inverted W. If desiredhthe overlapping strips may be pressed together by a circu ar rounded die, providing a cup-shaped'cavity 7, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9,

.9o leavlng a surrounding curved body portionfi'n each"st1'ip. The' members as thus pressed receive and retain I an additional stiffness beyond the center of each cross-joint outwardly beyond the juncture of the edges of the members, Whilethe pressing operation practically amalgamates the sections together, resulting in one continuous stifl rack of great strength.y When this rack is incorporated with the case between IOC the sections or otherwise, it serves the further purpose of stiffening and bracing the walls at all points, so as to efl'ectually overcome the dlstorting or bending strains to 'which articles of this class are subject in use. In Fig. 10 I show one ofthe terminals 5 of the rack inserted between the connecting-flanges, which, with the terminals, are then indented. or groo ved, as at 8, while in Fig. '1 1 a holding- `clip 9 isinserted between the sides 9 ofstrengt enlng-ribs of the case with whichd the ter- .minal of the rack is connected, the parts then ros vbeing indented or grooye-d in a similar mann neatly rounded at the corners'iof eachsquare aperture, while the device. as a whole produces a finished efficient structure. for the purpose desired.. l t is eigtrenieljP strong, very simple and cheap in construction, durable and effective in operation, and grea tly adds to the efiiciency ofthe case. While the manner of attachment with the case which I have shown and described has given good resuits in practice, it is obvious that it may be connected, in any other suitable or desired manner or 'may be incorporated with a Wooden case or'with any other similar structure or vessel.

The device may be made Aof any size, 'proportions, or combinations, as desired, or may be variously changed in d esig'n or other d etails by the skilled mechanic g but all such changes are to be considered 'as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is- 1. A partition structure consisting of a plurality of strips of sheet metal crossed at right angles to each other. flattened at the crossing juncture and provided with cross-grooves pressed through botli members, the intervening portion of the strips being bent into inverted-U form, substantially as set forth.

2. A partition structure consisting ot a plu rality of strips of sheet metal crossed :it right angles to each other, fiatten'ed at the crossing juncture and provided with 'cross-grooves pressed through both members, the intervening portion of the strips being bent into inverted-U forni, and provided with flattened attachingterminals, substantially as set fort-h. t

attaching-terminals inserted between the meeting portions of adjacent sections, substantially as set forth.

'4. Tlie combination with a sheet-metal case having outwardly-extending strengthening-ribs forfned of bent portions of thecasing, of a partition structure having its terniinails-projecting between and embraced by the sides of said i'ibs, and means for securely holding the terminals therein substantially asV structure consisting of ai plurality of strips' crossed at right angles to each other, secured together, and provided with attaching-terminals inserted between the meeting portions of adjacent sections withr means for securing the partition-terminals between the sections, substanrialljv as set forth.

7. The combination with a sheet-metal case formed of joint-ed sections, of a partition structure consisting of a plurality of strips crossed at right angles to each other, secured togetlier,.and provided with attaching-terminals inserted between the meeting portions of adjacent sections, and held therein by securing-indentations. substantially as set forth.

S. The combination with a sheet-metal ease formed of jointed sections connected together by folding Athe edge of one section l around an engaging flange in the adjacent. i section, of partition devices having their tercase formed of continuous jointed sections, j of a partition structure consisting of a plurality of strips of sheet metal crossed at right l minals extending between said inenting por- 3. The combination with a sheet-metall tions of the ease. and means for securing the terminals in position, si-ibstantially as set forth.

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence, of two witnesses.

ARTHUR R. SPEER. W'itnesses:

Jas. J. hoshimi, J. J. Srniiii. 

